Exploring National Parks: Yellowstone & Banff

• National parks are government-protected areas for people to enjoy and for nature to remain safe; they preserve nature and provide opportunities for exploration/learning.

Importance of National Parks

• National parks protect forests, wildlife, and plants from pollution/development, ensuring healthy ecosystems for future generations.
• They provide a safe habitat for wild animals like bears, deer, wolves, and birds, free from hunting or disturbance.
• National parks serve as recreational spaces for hiking, camping, and sightseeing.
• It provides opportunities to learn about nature and promote environmental conservation.
• National parks preserve natural landscapes like mountains, forests, deserts, and oceans from overuse.

Yellowstone National Park (USA)

• Located primarily in Wyoming, covering parts of Montana and Idaho.
• First national park in the world.
• Features geysers like Old Faithful and hot springs.
• Notable wildlife includes bison, bears, and wolves.

Banff National Park (Canada)

• Situated in the Rocky Mountains, Alberta, Canada.
• Features stunning blue lakes like Lake Louise.
• Home to elk, bears, and mountain goats.

Kruger National Park (South Africa)

• Located in the northeastern part of South Africa.
• One of the most famous safari destinations.
• Home to the "Big Five" animals: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and buffalo.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Australia)

• Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea.
• The world's largest coral reef.
• Home to colorful fish, sea turtles, and coral.

Chobe National Park (Botswana)

• Located in northern Botswana, southern Africa.
• Known for its large elephant population.
• It inhabits lions, hippos, and diverse bird species.

Tortuguero National Park (Costa Rica)

• Situated on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica, Central America.
• Known for sea turtles that lay eggs on its beaches.
• Features rainforests and rivers, housing monkeys, sloths, and crocodiles.

Fiordland National Park (New Zealand)

• Located on the South Island of New Zealand.
• Known for dramatic scenery: tall cliffs, waterfalls, and deep fjords.
• Home to unique species like the kiwi bird and the endangered takahē.

Galápagos National Park (Ecuador)

• Located on the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Ecuador.
• Features unique animals like giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and blue-footed boobies.
• Its animal inhabitants have provided key insights into the study of evolution.

Protecting Biodiversity

• National parks protect biodiversity, ensuring different plants and animals can live safely.
• Hunting animals or cutting down trees is prohibited in most national parks; this allows plants and animals to grow, thrive, and remain undisturbed.
• National parks offer safe habitats for endangered animals, protecting them from losing their homes.
• Yellowstone National Park protects bison, wolves, and grizzly bears, promoting healthy biodiversity.

Protecting Habitats

• National parks protect natural habitats to ensure animals have finding places to live and food.
• National parks maintain natural environments like forests, lakes, and grasslands help animals live undisturbed.
• They maintain healthy ecosystems: trees nourish the birds, while bees pollinate for plant growth; this maintains balance.
• Kruger National Park protects the habitat of elephants, lions, and other animals from development or pollution, allowing natural roaming and feeding.

Helping Plants and Animals Adapt

• National parks help plants and animals adapt to environmental changes.
• Parks enable natural adaptation instead of habitat loss, therefore if droughts occur, animals can find water and plants can survive.

Research and Education

• National parks provide locations for scientific research, enabling understanding and care of the environment.
• Scientists in Banff National Park study bear movement and plant growth, aiding environmental protection and animal survival.